Israel Seals off Palestinian Territories, Approves New Settlements

Rasa - Israel locked the West Bank and Gaza Strip borders and approved plans for the construction of yet another 98 homes for settlers in the occupied West Bank, media and advocacy groups said.

News ID: 424036

Date: 02 October 2016 - 19:17

RNA - According to Israeli Army,the border closure took effect on Sunday at 12:01am. Only in the cases of medical and “humanitarian” emergencies will people be allowed to cross the borders, with the prior approval of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT),  RT reported.

The resrictions were imposed during new yaer holiday in Israel as it begins Sunday at sundown and ends Tuesday night. The measurs will be lifted on Tuesday at 11:59 p.m., or depending on a “situational assessment.”

Meanwhile a local advocacy group revealed that Israel has approved nearly 100 more homes as part of an illegal settlement construction.

According to the group, construction in the West Bank Shiloh settlement was given the green light in order to relocate Jewish settlers of the Amona outpost whose houses will be demolished by December by a court-order.

Two years ago Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that the outpost in Amona had been illegally built on private Palestinian land and ordered Israel to return the land to its original owners.

To compensate for their loss, authorities approved the construction of 98 new housing units in a settlement, located North of Ramallah. Those plans were finalized by the Civil Administration’s Planning Authority on Wednesday. Additional 200 units will be approved before the second stage of construction begins.

Israel continues to expand its reach in Palestinian territories in spite of international condemnation. Human rights organizations along with the UN have called for Israel to stop building settlements on Palestinian lands, citing their illegality and the impediment to peace.

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